North AmericaÂ’s CHILD Obesity Epidemic
Health experts offer ‘back-to-basics’ solution for families
NEWMARKET, Ontario (PRWEB) September 11, 2004
A recent study by the Boston Children’s Hospital found that every day, nearly one-third of U. S. children aged 4-19 eat fast food. In a year, this packs on about six extra pounds per child and increases the risk of obesity. With the release of the critically acclaimed documentary, “Super Size Me,” illustrating the detrimental effects of a fast food diet, and with new campaigns forged by fast food chains to offer healthy options, awareness of North America’s obesity problem has grown significantly.
So why arenÂ’t people making changes? Why do parents continue to stop at McDonaldÂ’s after soccer practice to pick up dinner for the family? According to health experts Steve Coons and Kevin Murdoch, the problem is more than just a lack of awareness.
In their new health guide, The Lifestyle JourneyTM Program, Coons and Murdoch list several factors that contribute to the obesity and overweight crisis, including an increased consumption of fast food, an increased use of computers and video games, increased work hours and demands on parents, as well as cutbacks to school recreation programs and sports.
“With so many dual-income families out there, and with added pressures to daily life, parents just don’t have the time to make healthy decisions for their children,” say Coons and Murdoch, both fathers of three. “We wanted to develop a program that parents could give to their children so that they could learn to make healthy choices for themselves.”
The Lifestyle JourneyTM Program is a back-to-basics guide that reinforces the old adage, “everything in moderation.” The authors emphasize the importance of daily physical activity and recommend a diet consisting of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, calcium and protein. The guide, meant for children ages 9-15, uses a fictional story to educate them about important issues, including heart attacks, cancer, smoking, peer pressure, body image and the affects of advertising. Interspersed throughout the text are startling statistics and helpful tips that teach kids how to make healthy decisions for themselves. The program also includes a Parent’s GuideTM, The 20-Day Healthy-Habit System™ and a quick-reference poster for the refrigerator.
The Lifestyle JourneyTM Program has received rave reviews from teachers and schools in Canada. It has been incorporated into the York Region District School Board, and is being considered by several other Canadian and U. S. school districts. Steve Coons is a certified kinesiologist and personal trainer. Kevin Murdoch is a financial advisor and also serves as a committee chair for the Southlake Regional Hospital Foundation. They both reside in Newmarket, Ontario. For more information, visit www. ideasforpeople. com.
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